Machine for aerial navigation.



' No. 666.266. Patented Ian. 22, mm.

A, n. DILLON-GREGG. I

MACHINE FOR- AERIAL NAVIGATION.

(Application filed May 1. 1899.)

(No ModeI.. 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

a I. d

pm 6 E R w N U L D um J MACHINE FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

{A umin filed May 1, 1899.)

(No Model.)

Patented Jan. 22, l90l.

J. H. DILLON-GREGG.

MACHINE FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

(Application filed May 1, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

WN WQ M *Nrrnn Snares A Fries.

ATEN

MACHINE FOR AERIAL NAVIGATION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 666,266, dated January22, 1901.

Application filed May 1,1899.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. DILLON- GREGG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Machines forAerial Navigation, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a machine designed particularly for aerialnavigation, the object being to construct a machine of the characterdescribed which will be suspended in space from a gas-reservoir, suchmachine being capable of propulsion and being provided with a vane orrudder acting as a steering apparatus to guide the machine in itsflight.

With this object in view my invention consists in a framework of lightmaterial, such as aluminium and willow or bamboo, said frame beingsuspended from the axis of the reservoir, which reservoir is preferablycylindrical in shape and provided with tapered ends, means beingarranged to rotate the easing of said reservoir on its axis, so that theflights carried on its external periphery will act to propel the machinethrough the air. Incident to the construction of this reservoir areroller-bearings interposed between the same and its outer shell orcasing, thereby reducing the friction of the movement of said outershell or casing to a minimum. The reservoir is also divided into anumber of compartments, each connecting with the hollow axle, wherebythe contents thereof may escape at the will of the operator when it isdesired to have the machine descend in the case of an emergency.

Another feature resides in the construction of the steering apparatusand its associate parts, and finally the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all aswill hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my improvedmachine for aerial navigation. Fig.

Serial No. 715,179. lilo modem 2 is a front elevational view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the gas-reservoir removed. Fig. 4is a detail view of the framing for the gas-reservoir. Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic view showing the manner of dividing the reservoir intoseparate compartments. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through saidreservoir, the same being broken awayin its length. Fig. 7 is across-sectional view on line 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlargedsectional view on line 8 S, Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is an enlargedcross-sectional view, partly in end elevation, of the roller shown inFig. 8.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, aindicates a hollow shaft or axle, upon which arearranged hubs b at proper distances apart, said hubs having spokes Z)attached to them, which spokes support a track-ring B. These track-ringsare connected together by longitudinally disposed braces or slats I),while diagonal braces b extend from the hub of one track-ring to thenext adjacent track-ring to firmly hold said track-rings in theirdesigned position. Between these track-rings and their supports arearranged inflatable bags A, which encircle the hollow shaft and whichare punctured by the diagonal brace-rods b, the openings for said hollowshaft and said diagonal bracerods being wrapped or suitably cemented tomake air tight joints. When these compart ment-bags A are inflated, theyrest against the spokes of the track-ring and the slats b, and in orderto offer an additional support a netting 6" encircles the slats, asshown to the right in Fig. 6, for the purpose of assist-.

ing in confining said bags to theirv designed limits. The ends of thereservoir as an entirety are preferably constructed by inclining thebrace-rods b" and conforming the end com pertinent-bags A to the shapethereof, so that such ends are tapered.

Oindicates funnelscommunicating with the opening in the hollow shaft attheir smaller ends, their larger ends opening into several compartmentsnear the upper end thereof.

In inflating the reservoir as an entirety gas is introduced through thehollow shaft and escapes through the funnels G into the severalcompartments until the required lightness of the machine is attained. Inthus charging the reservoir the device is preferably anchored to theground until such time as it is desired to rise, when the anchor-ropesare cast off. A pipe at leads from the end of the hollow shaft and has apressure-gage a arranged on its lower end, (see Fig. 1,) while a valve ais arranged in said pipe, which valve may, as shown, he provided with aweight to act as a safety-valve, and said valve also may have a cord orchain a connected to it by which the same may be opened at the will ofthe operator.

cl indicates hubs loosely mounted on the hollow axle and near each endthereof, said hubs carrying sprocket'wheels d and having also attachedto them brace-rods or slats d". These braces are inclined and runparallel with the braces Z)" and at proper points are encircled by bands(7 E indicates rollers which are secured to the braces or slats of theouter shell, which rollers bear against or engage with the track-rings Bheretofore described. As shown in Fig. 4, the braces or slats d and theencircling bands are surrounded by a netting (1 over which is stretcheda fabric, preferably oiled silk (1, while an outer netting d is arrangedover said silk. This fabric between this netting practically forms askin over the outer casing, which I have marked D as an entirety,

'which outer casing is rotatably mounted on the hollow shaft.

flights on the external periphery of the rotatable casing D, said bladesbeing preferably curved, as shown in Fig. 2, and suitably braced byknees f and brace-rods f.

G indicates standards or risers whose upper ends converge toward eachother and are connected to a bearing g, which is mounted on the ends ofthe hollow axle a. These standards form the front and back posts of acar or framework which is suspended from the axle of the reservoir. Atthe lower ends of the posts G are arranged suitable beams H, whichconnect the posts and properly space them, while cross-beams Linterposedbetween the posts, perform a similar function. These beams support anetting which serves as a flooring forthecar. Underthis flooring arearranged guide-rods J, on which is mounted a sliding weightJ, saidweight being connected to a cord 7', which passes over sheaves j,suitably mounted on a shaft journaled in the beams 11. By propermanipulation weight J can be moved longitudinally of the car to act asballast whenever desired. Weight J is preferably in the form of a hollowbox, on the lowest side of which is arranged a sliding door or othersuitable device, and the contents to give weight to the box beinggranular, such as sand, can be discharged at the will of the operatorwhen desired. Above and parallel with the floor-beams H are rails K,which are supported by suitable posts on the floor-beams, and rigidityis given to the structure by diagonal braces which, near the ends of thehand-rails, as I will call them, extend above said hand-rails and areconnected to the end posts G.

L indicates a frame suitably supported in the car about midway thelength thereof, which frame serves to support shafts carrying pinionsfor driving pulleys Z, belted to a pulley on shafts m, in turn drivingshaftsnby miter-gearing, which shafts n carry sprocketwheels 0, arrangedbeneath the sprockets d, respectively,and adapted to drive saidsprockets (1 through chains 19.

Both ends of the shell D are designed to be driven in the same directionthrough the gearint, just described, which gearing may be connected topower-driven motors or may be manu ally operated through the medium of acrank Z. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 3.) Secured to the rear post G arebearings m, arranged on suitable cross-pieces bet ween the posts, whichbearin gs cooperate with and support bearings 01, extending from arudder-post M. A rod 0 extends through these hearings and acts as apivot-point for the rudder.

N indicates the rudderframe, which is suitably braced by internalbraces, in which frame is mounted a suitable fabric, preferably in theform of oiled silk, on each side of which is arranged a netting to actas a support for said fabric.

q indicates an extension depending from the lower outer end of therudder or vane, said extension having an eye, in which are secured rods'1', connected at their other ends to a segment R, secured to the lowerend of the shaft 0'. A beveled pinion 5, arranged on a shaft journaledin suitable bearings, meshes with the segment R, the shaft of saidbeveled pinion carrying ahand-wheel at its other end by which the samemay be rotated, so as to operate the rudder or vane, and I arrange thesame at any desired angle, depending upon which direction it is desiredto turn the machine.

In operation enough gas is admitted into the reservoir to give themachine sufficient buoyancy, so that preferably it will clear theground, after which the operator either by assuming a proper positionhimself or by arranging the sliding weight tilts or places the machinein an inclined position, so that in rising the machine will be propelledforwardly and upwardly upon the rotation of the flights.

In travelingin ahorizontal line the machine is placed in substantially ahorizontal plane and the flights rotated. In descending the weight isplaced, or the operator places him self in advance of the center line ofgravity, so as to depress the nose of the machine, whereby when theflights are rotated the machine will gradually descend toward the earthat an angle. The angle of the rudder determines the course of flight,and the inclination of the machine with respect to a horizontal planewhen moving in one direction or the other determines the ascent ordescent.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of several parts of my device can be made and substitutedfor those herein shown and described without in the least departing fromthe nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patcut, is

1. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir mounted thereon,track-rings supported by said shaft, a rotatable outer shell carryingpropelling-blades and supported by said track-rings, and a carriagesupported by said shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a shaft, of trackrings supported thereby, acompartment gasreservoir, the compartments of which are mounted on theshaft and interposed between said rings, a rotatable shell carryingpropelling-blades and supported by said rings, and a carriage supportedby said shaft, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a shaft, of trackrings fixed thereon at suitabledistances apart, gas reservoir compartments arranged between said rings,a rotary propelling means for rotating the same, braces between saidrings for confining said reservoir-compartments in position, and acarriage supported by said shaft, substantially as described.

4.. The combination with a shaft, of trackrings supported thereon atdifferent points, a rotary propelling-shell mounted on said rings, meansfor rotating the same, gas-reservoir compartmentsarranged around saidshaftand between said rings, braces between said rings for supportingsaid reservoir-compartments, a netting cooperating with said bracesforsupporting said reservoir-compartments, and a carriage supported bysaid shaft, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a shaft, of trackrings supported thereon atdifferent points, a rotary propelling-shell supported by said rings,means for rotating the same, gas-reservoir compartments arranged aroundsaid shaft and between said rings, braces between said rings forsupporting said reservoir-compartments, a netting cooperating with saidbraces for supporting said reservoir-compartments, diagonal braces b forbracing said track-rings, and a carriage supported by said shaft,substantially described.

o. The combination with a gas-reservoir, of a shaft on which the same ismounted, a rotatable shell inclosing said reservoir, means for rotatingthe shell, spirally-arranged flights on said shell, and a carriagesupported by said shaft, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir arranged thereon,track-rings carried by said shaft, an outer shell inclosing saidreservoir and supported by said trackrings, spirally-arranged flights onsaid outer shell, means for rotating said shell independently of thereservoir, and a carriage supported from said gas-reservoir,substantially as described.

8. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir arranged thereon,track rings mounted on said shaft, an outer shell inclosing saidreservoir and supported by said track-rings, spirally-arranged flightson said outer shell, and means forrotating said outer shellindependently of the gas-reservoir, said means being located at each endof the shaft to engage each end of said shell, substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir concentric therewithand supported thereby, the ends of said reservoir being ta pered, ashell inclosing said reservoir and rotatably supported from said shaft,means for rotating said shell about said gas-reservoir,propelling-flights secured to said shell, posts suspended from the endsof said shaft, and a platform arranged between the lower ends of saidposts, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir arranged thereon, arotary shell inclosing said reservoir, spirally-arranged flights on saidshell, a carriage suspended from said shaft, and means on said carriagefor rotating said shell about said gas-reservoir, substantially asdescribed.

11. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir arranged thereon, arotary shell inclosing said reservoir, spirally-arranged flights on saidshell, a carriage suspended from said shaft, means in said carriage forrotating said shell and its flights about said gas-reservoir, and arudder or vane on said carriage, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a shaft, of a gasreservoir arranged thereon, arotary shell inclosing said reservoir, spirally-arranged flights on saidrotary shell, a carriage suspended from said shaft, a sliding weightar-- ranged on said carriage, means in said carriage for rotating saidrotary shell and its flights about said gas-reservoir, and a rudder orvane on said carriage, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a car having standards at opposite ends, ashaft connecting the standards, a gas-reservoir supported by said shaft,a rotatable shell surrounding said reservoir and rotatable on said shaftindependently of said reservoir, flights on said shell, means in the carand connections therefrom to saidshell for rotating the same,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence oftwo Witnesses, this 29th day of April, 1899.

JOSEPH H. DILLON-GREGG.

Witnesses:

F. R. CORNWALL, ANNA S. GRAY.

